Game ID: 42400164
Los Angeles Lakers @ Minnesota Timberwolves
Sunday, April 27, 2025 at 3:30 PM ET
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
MIN 28 33 23 32 116LAL 32 26 36 19 113
LAL @ MIN ScoutingLAL @ MIN Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
MIN availability going into 4/13 · 1 day's restBACK Dillingham back 4/10 after 2, 2 min since (21% of 10)
MIN availability going into 4/19 · 5 days' restBACK Dillingham back 4/10 after 2, 2 min since (21% of 10)
MIN availability going into 4/22 · 2 days' restOUT Dillingham missed 2 since 4/13, out tonight
MIN availability going into 4/25 · 2 days' restOUT Dillingham missed 3 since 4/13, out tonight
MIN availability going into 4/27 · 1 day's restOUT Clark missed 2 since 4/22, out tonight
OUT Dillingham missed 4 since 4/13, out tonight
MIN availability going into 4/30 · 2 days' restOUT Clark missed 3 since 4/22, out tonight
OUT Dillingham missed 5 since 4/13, out tonight
NEW Randle 33 to 38 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 5/06 · 5 days' restOUT Clark missed 4 since 4/22, out tonight
OUT Dillingham missed 6 since 4/13, out tonight
NEW Randle 33 to 38 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 5/08 · 1 day's restOUT Clark missed 5 since 4/22, returns tonight: 3 min (28% of 12)
OUT Dillingham missed 7 since 4/13, out tonight
NEW Edwards 37 to 42 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 5/10 · 1 day's restOUT Dillingham missed 8 since 4/13, out tonight
BACK Clark back 5/08 after 5, 3 min since (28% of 12)
LAL availability going into 4/13 · 1 day's restOUT Morris missed 11 since 3/24, returns tonight: 33 min (212% of 16)
OUT Len missed 11 since 3/24, returns tonight: 14 min (130% of 10)
BACK Milton back 4/04 after 6, 3 min since (24% of 11)
BACK Jemison III back 4/04 after 5, 3 min since (30% of 10)
LAL availability going into 4/19 · 5 days' restBACK Morris back 4/13 after 11, 33 min since (212% of 16)
BACK Len back 4/13 after 11, 14 min since (130% of 10)
NEW Milton 11 to 16 min over the last 3
LAL availability going into 4/22 · 2 days' restBACK Morris back 4/13 after 11, 33 min since (212% of 16)
BACK Len back 4/13 after 11, 8 min since (79% of 10)
LAL availability going into 4/25 · 2 days' restOUT Morris missed 2 since 4/19, out tonight
BACK Len back 4/13 after 11, 8 min since (79% of 10)
NEW Milton 11 to 17 min over the last 3
LAL availability going into 4/27 · 1 day's restOUT Morris missed 3 since 4/19, out tonight
BACK Len back 4/13 after 11, 6 min since (55% of 10)
LAL availability going into 4/30 · 2 days' restOUT Morris missed 4 since 4/19, out tonight
BACK Len back 4/13 after 11, 6 min since (55% of 10)
NEW Dončić 36 to 42 min over the last 4
NEW James 35 to 41 min over the last 4
NEW Finney-Smith 29 to 35 min over the last 4
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 98, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Edwards at 26 and Randle at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Dončić at 31 and James at 23 a game. Without Morris (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 98 a night to the Lakers' 107 and the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-4 a night and the Lakers minus-2. Call it Minnesota 112, the Lakers 104.
4/13 vs UTA 116-105 — MIN notes
MIN won 116-105. MIN shot 47% (46 of 98) to UTA's 45%, 13 of 43 from three. The glass went 54-40 for them. Edwards led with 43 (15 of 31, 7 of 18 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Gobert added 19, DiVincenzo 16. The hinge was Q3, 40-28: a lead of 1 became 13, and the lead reached 18. Edwards was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
4/19 @ LAL 117-95 — MIN notes
MIN won 117-95. MIN shot 51% (44 of 86) to LAL's 40%, 21 of 42 from three, and got to the line 10 times to LAL's 16. McDaniels led with 25 (11 of 13, 3 of 3 from three); Reid added 23, Edwards 22. The hinge was Q2, 38-20: MIN came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 11, and the lead reached 27. McDaniels was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
4/22 @ LAL 85-94 — MIN notes
MIN lost 85-94. MIN shot 38% (30 of 79) to LAL's 45%, 5 of 25 from three. Randle led with 27 (9 of 17, 2 of 4 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Edwards added 25. Q4 was theirs, 20-13, the deficit cut from 16 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 81-65 against them. DiVincenzo's -17 in 16 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/25 vs LAL 116-104 — MIN notes
MIN won 116-104. MIN shot 48% (44 of 91) to LAL's 47%, 13 of 36 from three. MIN turned it over 8 times to LAL's 16. McDaniels led with 30 (13 of 22, 1 of 5 from three); Edwards added 29, Randle 22. The hinge was Q4, 30-20: a lead of 2 became 12. MIN trailed 54-58 at the half and won the second half 62-46. Edwards was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
4/27 vs LAL 116-113 — MIN notes
MIN won 116-113. MIN shot 42% (38 of 90) to LAL's 45%, 14 of 36 from three, and went to the line 33 times to LAL's 25 — 26 points from the stripe to their 22. Edwards led with 43 (12 of 23, 5 of 10 from three, 14 of 17 at the line); Randle added 25, McDaniels 16. The hinge was Q4, 32-19: MIN came in trailing by 10 and left it ahead by 3. Reid was the night's best plus/minus at +9.
4/30 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 97 a night and allowing 109, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Dončić at 31 and James at 26 a game. They have lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Morris (4 straight). 2 days' rest. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 102, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Edwards at 32 and Randle at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-4 a night and the Lakers minus-4 and the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 14 times a game to Minnesota's 10. Call it Minnesota 109, the Lakers 107, the Lakers keeping it close.
5/06 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 100, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 24 free throws a game; Edwards at 27 and Randle at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. 5 days' rest. Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 107, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Curry at 23 and Butler III at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-5 a night and Golden State minus-4 and the line, where Minnesota takes 24 free throws a game to Golden State's 18. Call it Minnesota 111, Golden State 106.
5/08 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 101, shooting 42 percent and 25 from three, 26 free throws a game; Edwards at 27 and Randle at 23 a game. One day's rest. Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 106, shooting 42 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Butler III at 20 and Curry at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the arc, Golden State at 37 percent from three to Minnesota's 25 and the line, where Minnesota takes 26 free throws a game to Golden State's 18. Call it Minnesota 109, Golden State 106, Golden State keeping it close.
5/10 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 108, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Curry at 19 and Butler III at 18 a game. One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 101, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 25 free throws a game; Edwards at 26 and Randle at 22 a game. One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the arc, Golden State at 36 percent from three to Minnesota's 30 and the line, where Minnesota takes 25 free throws a game to Golden State's 19. Call it Golden State 109, Minnesota 108, Minnesota keeping it close.
4/13 @ POR 81-109 — LAL notes
LAL lost 81-109. LAL shot 39% (31 of 80) to POR's 44%, 9 of 28 from three, and got to the line 14 times to POR's 21. LAL turned it over 20 times to POR's 14. The glass went 42-56 against them. Knecht led with 27 (9 of 21, 5 of 12 from three); Milton added 16, Goodwin 12. Q4 was theirs, 20-20, but the other 3 periods went 89-61 against them. Knecht's -28 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/19 vs MIN 95-117 — LAL notes
LAL lost 95-117. LAL shot 40% (33 of 83) to MIN's 51%, 15 of 41 from three, and went to the line 16 times to MIN's 10 — 14 points from the stripe to their 8. Dončić led with 37 (12 of 22, 5 of 10 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); L. James added 19, Reaves 16. Q1 was theirs, 28-21, but the other 3 periods went 96-67 against them. Hachimura's -26 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/22 vs MIN 94-85 — LAL notes
LAL won 94-85. LAL shot 45% (34 of 75) to MIN's 38%, 6 of 29 from three. Dončić led with 31 (9 of 20, 2 of 8 from three, 11 of 11 at the line); James added 21, Reaves 16. The hinge was Q1, 34-15: from level to 19 ahead, and the lead reached 22. Dončić was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
4/25 @ MIN 104-116 — LAL notes
LAL lost 104-116. LAL shot 47% (37 of 78) to MIN's 48%, 17 of 40 from three. LAL turned it over 16 times to MIN's 8, and MIN turned those into 10 steals. James led with 38 (13 of 21, 5 of 9 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Reaves added 20, Dončić 17. Q2 was theirs, 32-22, turning a 6-point deficit into a 4-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 94-72 against them. Hachimura's -19 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/27 @ MIN 113-116 — LAL notes
LAL lost 113-116. LAL shot 45% (36 of 80) to MIN's 42%, 19 of 47 from three, and got to the line 25 times to MIN's 33. Dončić led with 38 (13 of 28, 5 of 12 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); James added 27, Hachimura 23. Q3 was theirs, 36-23, turning a 3-point deficit into a 10-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 93-77 against them. They led by as many as 12.
4/30 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 97 a night and allowing 109, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Dončić at 31 and James at 26 a game. They have lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Morris (4 straight). 2 days' rest. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 102, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Edwards at 32 and Randle at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-4 a night and the Lakers minus-4 and the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 14 times a game to Minnesota's 10. Call it Minnesota 109, the Lakers 107, the Lakers keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MINAE A. Edwards
DD D. DiVincenzo
JM J. McDaniels
JR J. Randle
MC M. Conley
NA N. Alexander-Walker
NR N. Reid
RG R. Gobert
TS T. Shannon Jr.
LALAR A. Reaves
DF D. Finney-Smith
DO Doncic
GV G. Vincent
JG J. Goodwin
JH J. Hayes
JV J. Vanderbilt
LD L. Dončić
LJ L. James
RH R. Hachimura
MIN/LAL the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Timberwolves push Lakers to edge of elimination with 116-113 comeback win behind Edwards' 43 points
MINNEAPOLIS -- — The Minnesota Timberwolves have found a new gear after a regular season of fits and starts.
Jaden McDaniels converted a three-point play with 39.5 seconds left for the lead and stole the ensuing inbounds pass from LeBron James , leading a rally by the Timberwolves for a 116-113 win over the Los Angeles Lakers that put them up 3-1 in the first-round series on Sunday.
Anthony Edwards , who had 43 points to lead Minnesota in scoring for the first time in this edition of the NBA playoffs , drew a foul on James during a drive to the lane with 10 seconds left and hit both free throws.
With Luka Doncic and James well-defensed along the arc, the ball went to Austin Reaves in the corner for the tying attempt that rimmed out.
Julius Randle added 25 points and McDaniels had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Wolves, who trailed by 12 late in the third quarter.
“It’s been a hallmark of this team in the second half of the season: There’s been no panic,” said Wolves coach Chris Finch.
Doncic bounced back from a stomach bug with 38 points on 13-for-28 shooting, but the Lakers headed home for a win-or-be-eliminated Game 5 on Wednesday.
“It’s going to be even harder to get the next one, so we’re going to have to fight through a lot,” Randle said, “but like we've done all year, we’ve got to rely on each other, play for one another, and we genuinely feel like if we do that, we give ourselves the best chance to win.”
Doncic, after fighting the illness and finishing with only 17 points in Game 3, was clearly feeling better after a full day to rest. But he went 1 for 6 in the fourth quarter from the floor.
James had 27 points and 12 rebounds for his 144th career double-double in the playoffs, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain for the third-most in history behind Tim Duncan (164) and Magic Johnson (157). James went 15 for 18 from the free-throw line, determined to get to the rim in what was the best game by the Lakers offense in the series, but he was scoreless in the fourth.
Reaves and Dorian Finney-Smith hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Lakers back in front with 1:29 left, but the Wolves took it from there.
With the arena quieted while fans filed back into their seats from the break, the Lakers started the third quarter with a 14-0 run. Reaves, who went scoreless in the first half while in foul trouble, got hot. Hachimura did, too, and coach J.J. Redick rode with the same lineup for the entire quarter.
But for the second straight game, the home team dominated down the stretch to continue a timely reversal of their regular season trend. The Wolves have outscored the Lakers in the fourth quarter of every game by a total of 105-69.
“We haven't lost nothing yet," Doncic said. “It's still the first one to four wins, and we've just got to still to believe.”